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Rio De Janeiro (Brazil) Reviews |
Demo
Travel Writer - Bronze
Visited in:
September 2008
for a period of
3 days
Voted this Destination:
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I am reviewing this destination based on my experience AND which is pretty much based on luck (that wasn't there in our case). I'd prob guess that with better luck, Rio is a 4 star or even 5 star rated destination, not the 2 star that I have given it.
We did Rio as a section of a First Choice Package holiday (3 nights Rio, 2 nights Iguassu Falls and 9 nights Costa Do Sauipe) in September 2008. We'd been told about the incredible beaches and the views from the mountain of Christ the Redeemer & Sugar Loaf Mountain.
However, Rio is definately a very weather dependent city. It rained and rained and was misty. We therefore couldn't see anything from the mountain of the Christ the Redeemer (we could barely see the Christ itself, even just a few metres away). Even more dissapointing was that even at a lower level, we couldn't see anything from Sugar Loaf Mountain (just white fog and mist).
To sum it up the beaches were wet and uninviting and all in all it was a real shame that such a potentially amazing destination could be so badly ruined by the weather.
The restaurants were quite nice and about the best part of the trip. We tried the traditional meat carving style Brazilian traditional restaurant but felt that it was all a bit too much meat and preferred individual dishes that the 'all you can eat' tradition restaurants.
There is a lot of fear about visiting Rio from people we had spoken to prior and after the trip. We can honestly say that this fear is a bit unfounded. YES there are 'favellas' (slums) that are drug ridden and weapon ridden just a couple of miles from the main tourist areas BUT they are very much to themselves and in the 3 days we saw absolutely no trouble. We didn't stay out too late and stuck to well lit areas and didn't go out of the tourist areas. I guess if you stick to those guidelines you'll have a safe and enjoyable trip (weather permitting  ).
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Silvinho
Visited in:
February 2007
for a period of
14 days
Accommodation:
Private Accommodation
Voted this Destination:
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Rio is a great destination. The beaches are fantastic and the atmosphere is great in the whole city. Only bad thing for Rio is that in bad weather there is not much to do. Sightseeing is a big thing for Rio and the other big thing is the beaches therefore on a rainy day these are not much fun.
The cultural side of Brazil is in the Favelas. Only go with a tour guide though. It can be a bit dangerous for tourists to go into the favela without local people. There is a lot of crime in these places but with a good tour guide it is safe and is an interesting way to see what the other side of Rio is about.
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Stu Edwards
Guest
Visited in:
July 2004
Voted this Destination:
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The Excelsior Copacabana was a great modern and comfortable hotel right on Copacabana beach. We had a large triple room with 3 single beds. The rooms were well furnished with laminate flooring, and nice granite bathrooms. The bed was very comfortable with cool cotton sheets, and the air conditining was great! Our room was at the back of the hotel, and so was very quiet. Rooms at the front overlook a busy 6 lane road next to the beach.
The staff were excellent and friendly, and the breakfast buffet was really tasty- including a special low fat section. We at in the hotel restaurant several evenings, as the buffet was excellent and only £6!!
The rooftop pool is fab and offers great views of the beach and Christ the Redeemer statue. They serve food by the pool all day- great open sandwiches and salads for £3- £4. The bar prices are cheap too £1 for a beer.
There is also a free bus to the airport, and a well equipped gym.
I would definitely stay here again- we had a great holiday, despite the bad things we had heard about Rio in the guide books. We never saw any trouble, and there were always lots of police around.
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Laura Kerr
Guest
Voted this Destination:Not voted yet
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| My husband and I went to Rio for our 25th wedding anniversary. It was the best holiday we have ever had. We stayed in the Copacabana Hotel, which was really good, very clean, food great, staff really helpful. We moved to this hotel because our first choice was the Ducasse Hotel which did not come up to expections. However the Copacabana Hotel had everything we wanted, and Rio was very much alive from first thing in the morning to last thing at night. The whole place is keep fit crazy, people playing football, volleyball, walking, cycling, skating and the beaches are floodlit at night. The food is outragous and very cheap. We did the usual tours and found the people very nice, we would definately go back.
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